OHIO STATE

Are Buckeyes getting enough credit for win over Badgers?

Jon Spencer Reporter

Since Urban Meyer participated in the Cleveland Cavaliers’ championship parade, LeBron’s team returned the favor Monday.

With the Cavs in Columbus for an exhibition game Tuesday night in the Schottenstein Center, coach Tyronn Lue and general manager David Griffin stopped by Ohio State’s practice a day earlier with the Larry O’Brien Trophy in tow.

It’s a good thing the informal get-together took place on the practice field and not inside the Woody Hayes Athletic Center, where the Cavs’ title trophy, the first of its kind in Cleveland in 52 years, might have gotten lost amid all the hardware from the Buckeyes’ eight — count ’em, 1942, 1954, 1957, 1961, 1968, 1970, 2002, 2014 — national championships.

Which brings us to OSU’s latest title chase, or what Meyer has dubbed “The Edge” — crossing the border from ordinary to extraordinary.

Lost in some of the fireworks last Saturday was the 43-yard catch Dontre Wilson made to set up a game-tying field goal late in the fourth quarter of Ohio State’s 30-23 overtime win at Wisconsin.

While Saturday’s 30-23 overtime win at Wisconsin was great theater, we can all agree the Buckeyes were far from extraordinary in any facet of the game, other than kicking.

Still, the reaction nationally has been a little startling.

Maybe because they occupied the rungs right below No. 1 Alabama in the national rankings, many pundits seem to want to lump No. 2 OSU’s win over the No. 8 team in the country, in one of college football’s toughest venues, with No. 3 Clemson’s escape, at home, in overtime, over 28-point underdog North Carolina State.

Sorry, no comparison.

That’s reflected somewhat in this week’s Associated Press poll where the Buckeyes remain No. 2 while Clemson fell one spot to fourth behind Michigan. OSU lost its two first place votes after being out-played by Wisconsin for much of the game, coupled with ’Bama bashing then-No. 9 Tennessee 49-10.

But Michigan having a first-place vote and OSU zero in this week’s poll is as incomprehensible as the ESPN personality who said that the only two “elite” teams left in the country are Alabama and Michigan.

Huh?

Did the Wolverines look that impressive last Saturday sitting at home on their couches?

Ohio State has two wins over top 10 teams, both on the road, including then-No. 3 Oklahoma. Michigan has one. The Wolverines beat then-No. 8 Wisconsin by seven, at home, deserve props for giving up only seven points to the Badgers, at home, but scored only 14. Did I mention that game was at home?

Pointing out Ohio State’s flaws against Wisconsin and measuring the Buckeyes against themselves comes with the territory when you’re perennially in the national title conversation and have one of the top coaches in America.

But we all need to step back and take a breath as we wring our hands over a suddenly vulnerable defense and passing attack that has barely managed a passing grade the last two weeks.

Since when do we devalue any victory over a top 10 team, especially at their place?

If Alabama goes on the road and beats a top 10 rival from the mighty SEC, no matter how ugly the effort, it’s lauded from Tuscaloosa to Timbuktu.

Are we giving Ohio State enough credit for not only beating a top 10 opponent on the road, but one that had an extra week to prepare and veer completely away from its tendencies on offense and defense?

Ohio State quarterback J.T. Barrett is the Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week after rallying the Buckeyes to a 30-23 overtime win at Wisconsin.

“(Hall of Fame) coach Lou Holtz sent me a nice text,” Meyer said. “He studies everything we do. (He said) you need to get hit right in the chops. We did. Not every fight’s going to be tilted one way.

“As anguished as that was, as much of a root canal as that was, I’d much rather have it that way for that kind of game, for the development of your team.”

That’s another thing we tend to forget. This team replaced 16 starters. It has more true freshmen and redshirt freshmen than not among its scholarship players.

That’s why a veteran quarterback like J.T. Barrett is so important. He returns to Penn State on Saturday, where he first showed his overtime moxie two years ago, willing the Buckeyes to victory on a bum knee.

In their brief chat the other day, Coach Lue mentioned to Barrett he was also a quarterback. “Like Mike Vick,” Lue said.

Meyer will take Barrett over Vick or Lue in their prime.

“The absolute test of a leader is to rate the level of play around him,” he said. “(Barrett’s) surrounded by a bunch of guys who were newbies this year ... and now they’re not.”

THE SERIES

The Buckeyes hold a 17-13 edge and lead 7-5 in games played in Beaver Stadium. OSU has won the last four and defeated the Nittany Lions 31-24 in double overtime two years ago in State College.

Ohio State coach Urban Meyer has led the Buckeyes to a 20-0 record on the road.

KEYS TO VICTORY

BUCKEYES

Stretch the field

A vertical attack has largely been missing the last two weeks. Against Indiana, J.T. Barrett didn’t hit open targets behind the secondary. Against Wisconsin, the receivers weren’t getting separation. The Buckeyes need to get this ironed out or it might take extra duty again to keep their road winning streak alive.

Keep seeing ‘red’ on defense

Smarting from the big plays and yardage yielded to Wisconsin, OSU reduced the damage by forcing the Badgers to settle for four field goals. The Buckeyes lead the nation in red zone defense. Opponents have had 16 opportunities inside the 20, managing one rushing touchdown, three passing touchdowns and six field goals.

STATISTICAL LEADERS

Coach: Urban Meyer is 56-4 in 5th season

Rushing: TB Mike Weber 612 yds. on 94 att., 6.5 avg., 4 TD

Passing: QB J.T. Barrett 96-152-1,207 yds., .632 pct., 16 TD; 4 INT

Receiving: H-B Curtis Samuel 29 rec. for 403 yds., 13.9 avg. 3 TD

Defense: (Tackles) LB Jerome Baker 39; (Sacks) DE Tyquan Lewis 4; (INT) SAF Malik Hooker 4

NITTANY LIONS

Make running game count

Saquon Barkley, coming off a career-high 202 yards vs. Maryland, had 194 on 26 carries last year against the Buckeyes, but OSU kept him out of the end zone and the Lions generated only one TD in the 38-10 loss. Penn State needs to make better use of Barkley’s production to have a shot at winning this game, but they’ll have to do it without injured veteran tackle Andrew Nelson. No doubt, the Lions noticed that Wisconsin’s Corey Clement had 164 yards, including a 68-yard breakaway last week.

Don’t be afraid to air it out

The Buckeyes have 11 interceptions, but Wisconsin had success throwing the ball downfield and Penn State hasn’t been shy in that regard either. This might be the best group of receivers the Lions have had in some time. Six different Lions have caught TDs and four have 18 or more receptions.

STATISTICAL LEADERS

Coach: James Franklin 18-14 in third season

Rushing: TB Saquon Barkley 582 yds. on 117 att., 5.0 avg., 8 TD

Passing: QB Trace McSorely 103-177-1,436 yds., .582 pct., 8 TD, 3 INT

Receiving: WR Chris Godwin 23 rec. for 325 yds., 14.1 avg., 2 TD

Defense: (Tackles) FS Marcus Allen 57; (TFL) LB Manny Bowen 5; (PBU) CB John Reid 3

WHEN OSU

HAS THE BALL

1.000

That’s what walk-on kicker Tyler Durbin is batting on field goals. The former James Madison soccer player hit a career-high three field goals last week at Wisconsin in front of a raucous Camp Randall crowd. He hit a 25-yarder to cut into a 10-0 deficit and added a career-long 40-yarder to make it 10-6. Most importantly, with 3:57 left, he split the uprights on a 31-yarder to tie the game and help send it into overtime. Durbin, who had never attempted even a practice field goal until this fall, is 8-for-8 on field goals and leads the Big Ten in total points and kick scoring.

WHEN PSU

HAS THE BALL

524

The Lions weren’t too nice to former Michigan defensive coordinator and Urban Meyer assistant T.J. Durkin in beating his Maryland Terrapins 38-14. Their 524 yards of total offense were the most for Penn State since posting 574 against Eastern Michigan in 2013 and the most in a Big Ten game since 546 against Indiana in 2012. It was the first game over 500 since the 2014 season opener against UCF (511). The Lions ran for 372 yards, their fourth-most rushing yards in a game over the last 20 years. It was the most in an FBS and Big Ten game since piling up 390 against Michigan State in 2002.

Penn State coach James Franklin is on the hot seat even though he’s five-for-five in sending Vanderbilt and the Nittany Lions to bowl games.

KEY MATCHUPS

ON OFFENSE

It got overlooked in all of the other fireworks, but Dontre Wilson had a huge 43-yard catch late in the fourth quarter to set up a field goal and send the Wisconsin game into overtime. He has quietly matched Noah Brown with 16 receptions and has five TDs, four receiving. Penn State has only picked off six passes, but Marcus Allen has a big lead in tackles for the Lions. He’s not related to namesake Marcus Allen, the all-time great, but he is the godson of former NFL star Curtis Martin.

KEY MATCHUPS

ON DEFENSE

Tyquan Lewis led the sack-by-committee on fourth down in OT that sealed the victory over Wisconsin. After leading the Buckeyes last season with eight sacks, he’s the pace-setter again this season with four. Paris Palmer was pressed into duty in the Lions’ last game because of an injury and, if OSU’s last play against U-W is any indication, will have his hands full keeping his quarterback upright.

SCOUTING OHIO STATE

(6-0, 3-0 Big Ten)

It seems like Penn State fans always save their “White Out” for a visit from the Buckeyes. At least Ohio State should be prepared after walking into a similarly hostile environment last week at Wisconsin and emerging with the victory. The overtime win, engineered by J.T. Barrett, reminded many of OSU’s last trip to State College in 2014 when Barrett overcame an awful passing day, including a pick-6, to practically will his team to victory. Despite an MCL sprain, he did most of the damage with his legs, scoring both OSU touchdowns in the double overtime victory.

SCOUTING PENN STATE

(4-2, 2-1 Big Ten)

Now that the NCAA sanctions from the Jerry Sandusky scandal are gone, patience is wearing thin. James Franklin has produced winning seasons and bowl trips his first two years, but a failure to get the best from quarterback Christian Hackenberg before his departure and that 0-7 record against East Division rivals OSU, Michigan and Michigan State isn’t helping his case. Franklin has brought in new coordinators, but the valleys remain lower than the peaks are high. Handing Minnesota and Maryland their first losses the last two times out doesn’t offset a 42-39 loss to state rival Pittsburgh or the 49-10 pounding absorbed at Michigan. A win Saturday night could take some of the heat from Franklin’s seat and give his Lions a boost heading into their final two home games against Iowa and Michigan State. But right now, they appear headed toward a third straight seven-win season.